Material serving apparatus



A ril 7, 1942. w. c. EWALDSON ET AL MATERIAL SERVING APPARATUS F ile d Aug. 17, 1940 2 shee ts-sheet'l INVENTORS ma. gmqwsogv J. A. o'nn 01. H

ATTORNEY April 1942- w. c. EWALDSON arm. 2,279,114

I MATERI AL SERVING APPARATUS v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Aug. 17, 1940 Fla. 6 I

INVENTORS ma. EWALDSON .1..4. o'HA/voLer BY RmW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7,.1942

Waldemar 0. Ewaldson, Millington, N. J., and ,Joseph A. OHandley; Brooklyn, N. Y., assign-. ors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 17, 1940, Serial No. 353,088

. 11 Claims.

This invention relates to material serving apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for serving tape to advancing cores.

-One of the steps frequently employed in the processes of manufacturing electrical cables is the serving of tape, for example, paper tape, thereto intermediate the electrical conductors and the final sheath. Such cables vary in size, that is, in diameter, and with the variations in size variations are necessary in the width-of the tape and/or in the angle of application of the tape thereto. Such variations require numerous serving heads, and it has been determined advantageous to provide one serving head with variable features to accommodate many different sizes of cablev and capable of serving tapes of different widths at difierent angles of application thereto. An object of the invention is to provide a material serving apparatus which is simple in construction and accurately variable, to serve tape of various widths to cables of various sizes. I With this and other objects in view, the inven' tion comprises a serving head having a support for pads of tape of various widths, guide rollers for directing the travel of the tape to an advancing core or cable including a roller variable to cause travel of the tape at a preferred angle relative to the core, and a guide for the core variable for cores of different sizes to support the core adjacent the point of application.

" Other objects and advantages will be apparent gel. 57-18) the'shaft I4 between the bearings H and i2 in the housing I!) and normally held for rotation with the shaft by suitable means, such as a set screw it. A sprocket Wheel II mounted upon the sleeve l and fixed thereto, by a set screw I8, for rotation with the sleeve and the shaft,

eral edge' bent at right angles to serve as a reenforcing means. The member 2| is apertured at itscenter'for receiving the tubular shaft l4 and has suitable means, such as a collar 22,

from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus, portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary frontelevational view of the core guide;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of the core guide taken substantially along. the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; i V

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5 illustratingan adjustment of the apparatus, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 3. 4 g Referring now. to the drawings, attention is first directed to Figs. 1 and 2, which illustrate fixed thereto to removably secure the member tothe' shaft through the aid of a set screw 23. A cone head 26 (Figs. 1 and 3) is disposed concentric with the shaft l4 and fixed to a circular plate 21 mounted for rotation on the shaft [4. The cone head 26 has a cylindrical externally threaded portion 311 extending to the right (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) to receive a. retaining element 3| of the general contour illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The element 3| is in the form of a nut split, or having a portion removed between the surfaces, indicated at 33- (Fig. 4), and provided with a cone portion 35 of similar incomplete circular contour which will cooperate with the cone head 26 to grip a pad of tape 31 therebetween. Radially projecting handles ll]. have their inner ends fixed to-the nut 'portion of the element to assist in manually moving the nut on the threaded portion 30 in securing a pad in place or freeing the. remaining core of an empty pad.

Thetape 3'! upon leaving the pad, is threaded over a roller 42, a roller 43 of a tension arm 44. around rollers 45 and 46, and aroundan adjustable roller 41 to the core 48 being covered, which in the present instance is an electrical cable. The rollers 42 and 45 are supported for rotation by the member 2! and extend at right angles with respect thereto. The tension arm 44 is normally urged upwardly by any suitable means, such as a spring 50, and is pivoted, at 5|..to the member 2|. Suitable means (not shown) may be associated with the tension arm to create a braking force between the member 2| and plate 21. Such means may be essential in the complete operation of the apparatus to create a definite tension on the tape, but as it is not considered a necessary feature of the invention, such supported in general by a bracket 52 fixed to the member 2|. Specifically, the roller 41 is rotatably supported by a cradle 53, that is, a memberv substantially U-shaped in general contour, with the legs supporting the roller and the central portion fixed to a stud or other suitable threaded portion 55. The stud 55 extends through the outer portion of the bracket 52 and through the aid of a nut 56 provides means to secure the cradle and the roller at any desired angle with respect to the vertical plane of the member 21".

and center line of the core 48. Suitable means,

' in adjusting the support 12 with its other assosuch as integral bosses onthe cradle 55and the bracket 52, serve to space the cradle a suitable;

distance from the bracket as illustrated ,in, Fig-.-

ciated parts relative to the head 65. The tool 90, as will be observed by viewing Fig. 4, has a semicircular end 9l, notched at 92 to receive the rod 16 and curved to straddle the rod 15. A pin 93 carried by the tool 90, is-receivable in an aperture 94 (Figs. land 5) in the head 65 to serve as a fulcrum about which the tool may be moved,

to force the support 12 upwardly ordownwardly,

as'the case may be. 'A weight 96 is secured to .the member 2| substantially diametrically opposite the rollers 42, 43, 45, 46 and 41 and the associated structures, to serve to counterbalanc the w entire serving head.

15: 3. This allows for adjustment ofthe cradle'relative to a dial plate 60 mountedupon'the bracket and having graduations or indications, shown atg 6|, disposed in arcuate arrangement about the; center of the stud 55, so that through thecooperation of a pointer 62 fixed to and movable with the cradle the operator may readily: deterf mine the angular position of the roller 41; p a

The operation of the apparatus is as follows.

The-core 48' is advanced ata definite speed in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1). From the size of the core,';that, is, the diameter thereof, the

operator determines the size, that is, the width, of

, slight overlapping edges.

the-tape to be served thereto.. The purpose of the ta'pe' is to completely cover the core with but The size of the-tape to be served to the core is determined before the Attention is now directed to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, Y

which illustrate the core guiding means consisting of an annular head portion 65 threadedlymounted upon the adjacent end of theshaft I4 and secured operating with-the adjacent structure of the headto form a dovetail or angular slot similar in contour to the slot 61.- A supporting member 12, of the general contour illustratedin Figs. 4 and'5 and conditioned to'fit within the cutaway portion of the head 65, is disp'osedthereinand con; ditioned for vertical adjustment the head when the clamp 69 isloosened andto be held at any desired position by the clamp. By the aid of a.

pointer 'H' on the supporting member 12. andv graduations 13 on the adjacent surfaceof the head 65, the graduations representing measure-, ments in diameters of cores the operator may readily adjust the supportfor any desired core. The support "has rods '14, T 5 and 16. extending outwardly in spaced parallel planes parallel also with the center line of the-.sh'aft l 4; and the general path of travel oi the core l8.v The adja-. cent ends of the rodsgare embedded in; the sup-, port 12, while the outer ends of .the,.rods,. have an auxiliary supporting element; 80,,similar in general contour to the-support l2 .exceptingthe outer edges thereof, ,whichmay. be flat .and not provided with the dovetail contoun; The element 80 is fixed to the rodsby suitable means, such as pins 8|. Adjustable auxiliary supporting. elee' ments 82 and 83 are slidablydispose'd .oi'rthe rods and may be secured in any desired. adjustable positions by setscrew B4. The under surfaces of the support I2 and the auxiliary supporting. elements 80, 82 and 83 are -.V'-shaped. in general contour, as indicated at 85. (Riga-2? andz4),land these surfaces are. roundedv slightly to remove sharp edges which might damage. the surfaces for the core. The rods I4, 15 and 16 servemaine,

1y as rigid supporting portions of theunit to hold the supporting elementsBD, 82 and.83: against movement, to guide the core. in. a. definitelpath. The rod 16 may serve asan additionalmeans. to guide the tape to the coreand to function with a suitable tool, indicated at sil which may beused core is threaded through the shaft If. The selected pad of tape'is disposed-over the ends of the supporting elements 80, 82 and 83 and the, rods 74, 15 and, 16 and moved rearwardly, that: is, to thetleit (Fig. 1) until the pad is disposed adjacent the, cone head 26, the element 3| having'been removed. The cutaway portion 33 of the element 3l permits removal thereof adjacent the head 65 without the necessity of moving it to the ends of the rods 14, Hand 16. With the selected pad disposed in place, theelement 3] may be rotated upon the. threaded portion until it causes a. firm gripping of. the-pad beteween the cone head andthe cone portion .35. Thetapemay then be threaded, about the rollers 42, 43, 45,. 46 and 41, respectively, and to the core 48. The operator then, determines the angle at which, the, tape should begiecl to the core and adjusts the; roller 41 accordinglyby; loosening; the nut: 56 and; moving thecradle 53 ;with;the roller 41 until'the desired adjustment,,through the aid ofthe'pointer 52 and the,-graduations 6|, has, been-made. "The nut 56 may; then be tightened to hold the roller against accidental; displacement. The, sup: porting elements 82 and 83 may then beaadjustcd on the rods to support the core adjacentthe point of application-ofthe tape. The apparatus may then-be set in, motiorn;which in the present instancecau's es clockwise rotation otthe serving head 20- to spirallywrap the taper about I the core during the advancement thereof. During; the rotation of the, serving head the spiral wrapping of the tape, will cause the tapeto be drawn: over the respective rollers to, rotate the pad as the-tape is pulled therefrom. JThe tension-thetape has a tendency to pull the core out; of, its general path of travel, but. this-:is avoided by the=sup-, portingmember l2 and its associated supporting elements 80, 82 and 83whichare locateda with their angular,- or V s haped engaging surfaces 85 in planestangent tqtheg corehto cause the core to travel in its definite path, resulting'ina uniform laying; 0t the tape onthe core andeliminati g i ular laying-of the tape should the core be allowed to be bent out of its preferred path of travel. I The V-shaped engaging; surfaces of the support 12, and the supporting elements", 82,. and 83 will. accommodate cores of various: sizes,. for, example; coreslarger thanithe'core'48 capable1of passing. through the shaft; M7017 other cores smalle er.in siz e'to'- the smallest core whichmight be,

equal to the curvature of the arcuate surfaces 85 joining the legs of the angular portions thereof.

When cables of different sizes are to be served, the support 12 and its associated parts are adjusted so that the surfaces will be tangent with the selected cable when the cable is positioned with its center at the axis of the shaft l4. This adjustment is made possible by loosening the screw of the clamp 69 and through the aid of the tool 90, moving the support 12 with its associated parts to locate the pointer H adjacent the graduation 13 representing the diameter of the cable tobe covered.

This apparatus may be used in conjunction with other units necessary in the formation of electrical cable and when the space between such units and this apparatus is restricted it may be desirable to condition the shaft l4 as illustrated,'so that it may be moved to the right after loosening the set screws 16 and 23, to move the head 65 with'the support 12 and its associated parts forwardly or to the right (Fig. 1) so as to position the fixed supporting element 80 a greater distance from the pad of tape to allow for the desired angle of application of the tape to a smaller core, as indicated in dotted lines at 100 in Fig. 1. This adjusted position of the shaft 14 is further illustrated in Fig. 6, which shows the head 65 spaced from the threaded portion 30. The rods 14, 15 and 16 may also be ofgreater length to allow for this angular application of the tape to the smaller cores. In almost each instance the roller 41 must be adjusted so that the tape will travel smoothly from the roller 46 to the core with an equal strain caused by the tension of the tape throughout the withdrawal of the tape in passing over the roller 41 and eliminating tearing or breaking of the tape which would occur if the roller 41 were not adjustable with the variations in the angles of application of the tape to the core. It will readily be observed that when the roller 41 is in the proper position, shown in Fig. 1, for the travel of the wide tape 3'1 along the desired angle to the core 48 it would not be located properly for a narrow tape, indicated at H, in travelling through a different angle of application to the smaller core 100. If such an attempt were made to apply the narrow tape IUI to the core lllll without adjustment of the roller 41, there would be a definite unbalance of force throughout the width of the narrow tape in passing over the roller 41, tending to'tear the tape at point of greatest force, which would be at the left (Fig. 1). Furthermore, as the angle of application varies the distance of the point of application from the pad varies, necessitating adjustment of the supporting elements 82 and 83 so that a support will be positioned upon each side of the tape. For example, with the wider tape 31 the support 12 is disposed at the left thereof (Fig. 1), while the supportingelement 82 is disposed at. the right thereof. Should the tape travel nearer the center of the rods the supporting elements 82 and 83 will be adjusted on the rods so as to be located one upon each side of the tape. However, if the tape should extend outwardly its greatest distance from the pad, the supporting element 83 will be disposed at the left of the tape while the supporting element 80 will serve to support the core at the right of the tape.

This single apparatus is capable, through variations in its different members and elements, to singly serve materials of various sizes in various angular directions to cores of various sizes and support the cores against deflection adjacent the variable points of application of the materials to the cores. The term angular direction is intended to be understood as'the angular position of the material relative to the core during its travel from the roller 41 to thecore. It should also be understoodthat the apparatus although shown serving the material spirally clockwise on the cable or core is capable of serving the material spirally counter-clockwise. It

result. The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is merely illustrative and may be widely modified and departed from many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited solely by the appended claims. a

Whatis claimed is:

1. A material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to support a pad of material, means to serve the material singly to advancing cores varying in size, and means variable with the variations in the size of the cables to cause the cables to advance in a definite path.

2. A material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to support a pad of material, means to serve the material singly to advancing cores varying in size, and elements with substantially V-shaped surfaces each to singly engage spaced points of surfaces of cores varying in size to hold the core against deflection.

3. A material serving apparatuscomprising rotatable means to support a pad of. material,

means to serve the material singly to advancing cores varying in size, elements with substantially V-shaped surfaces each to singly engage spaced points of surfaces of cores varying in size to hold the core against deflection, and means to support the element at positions variable with variations in the size of the core.

4. A material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to support a pad of material, means to serve the material singly to advancing cores varying in size, an element of a contour to singly support cores varying in size, and means to vary the positions of the element to support cores varying in size.

5. A material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to support a pad of material, means to serve the material singly to advancing cores varying in size, an element of a contour to singly support cores varying in size, and means to indicate the location for the support for the various sizes of cores.

6. A material serving apparatus comprisin rotatable means to support a pad of material, means to serve the material singly to advancing cores varying in size, elements of contours to singly support the cores, means to support the elements distances from the center of the cores Varying with variations in the diameters of the cores and distances from the pad to support the cores on both sides of the material.

7. A material serving apparatus comprising a hollow rotatable shaft through which cores of various sizes may be singly advanced, rotatable means supported by the shaft to support a pad of material, means to secure the material singly to cores at points distances from the pads variable with variations in the sizes of the cores, an

element carried by the shaft to support the cores at the serving points, and means to move the shaft relative to the pad tolocate theelemen adjacent the serving point.

8.111 material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to support a pad of material and serve the material spirally about an advancing coreat a point variable relative to the pad, an elongate member extending parallel with the core, and elements adjustable on the member to positions on each side of the said point to hold the core against deflection. a I

9. .A' material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to support a pad :of material and serve the material spirally about an advancing core at a point variable relative to the pad, an elongate member extending parallel with'the core, elements adjustable on the member to posion each side of the .saidrpoint tolhold the core against deflection, and separate means to secure the elementsin ad iusted positions.

10. A material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to supporta pad of material and serve the material spirally about an advancing core at a .point variable relative to the pad, an elongate member extending parallel with the core, elements'adjustable on the member to positions on each side of the said point to hold the core against deflection, and means to vary the position of the elongatemember and the elements relative to the path of the core for variations in the size of the core.

11. A material serving apparatus comprising rotatable means to support a pad of material and serve the material spirallyabout an advancing core at a point variable relative to the pad, an elongate member extending parallel with the core, elements adjustable on the member to positions on :each side of the said point to hold the core against deflection, and means to move the elongate member with the elements longitudinally of the core to locate theelements variable distances from the pad. I I

WALDEMAR C. EWALDSON.

JOSEPH A. O'HANDLEY. 

